Fitted Bed Sheet with Attached Skirt

ABSTRACT

A fitted bed sheet with attached skirt has a sheet body and an elastic band configured together to form a fitted sheet for covering a mattress. A skirt is further connected to the junction of a top panel of the sheet body and side panels of the sheet body, extending downward past the side panels when installed on a mattress.

The current application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of the U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/558,814 filed on Mar. 22, 2016.

The current application also claims a priority to a U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/468,822 filed on Mar. 8, 2017.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bedding. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bed sheet with an attached skirt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bedding, also known as bedclothes or bed linen, is the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, protection of the mattress, and decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. Multiple sets of bedding for each bed will often be washed in rotation and/or changed seasonally to improve sleep comfort at varying room temperatures. In American English, the word bedding generally does not include the mattress, bed frame, or bed base (such as box-spring), while in British English it does.

A set of bedding usually consists of a flat or fitted bed sheet that covers the mattress; a flat top sheet; either a blanket, quilt, or duvet, sometimes with a duvet cover which can replace or be used in addition to the top sheet; and a number of pillows with pillowcases, also referred to as pillow shams. Additional blankets and more may be added to ensure the necessary insulation in cold sleeping areas. A common practice for children and some adults is to decorate a bed with plush stuffed animals, dolls, and other soft toys. These are not included under the designation of bedding, although they may provide additional warmth to the sleeper.

A bed skirt is a decorative piece used to cover the boxspring and legs of the bed, obscuring them from view. Typically, the bed skirt fits between the mattress and the boxspring and hangs to or almost to the floor. Currently, in order to install a bed skirt, the user must remove their mattress from atop their boxspring, lay the bed skirt on the boxspring, and replace the mattress atop the boxspring. This process may provide significant difficulty to many people, since mattresses are heavy and cumbersome to move. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a fitted bed sheet with an attached skirt, allowing the user to have a bed skirt without needing to lift their mattress off the boxspring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a lower front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a lower left-side perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole.

The present invention is a fitted mattress sheet with an integrated bed skirt, enabling the user to have a bed skirt without having to lift their mattress off their boxspring in order to install a separate skirt on the boxspring. Instead, the user installs the present invention on their mattress. In some instances, the present invention may go by the name Solo Skirt Sheet. A flowing skirt attached around the fitted sheet conceals a box spring or other parts of a bed frame. The skirt hangs lower than the fitted portion. The present invention covers the mattress; it is a fitted sheet and the attached skirt part hangs down, covering, protecting and embellishing the box spring with its attached skirt, enabling a beautified completed bedsheet and skirt in one easy fitted piece.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, in general, the present invention comprises a sheet body 1, a skirt 2, and an elastic band 3. The sheet body 1 is preferably similar in form and function to typical fitted bed sheets. The skirt 2 is attached to the sheet body 1 and functions as an embellishing feature for the user's bedspread. The elastic band 3 is also typical of fitted bed sheets, enabling the sheet body 1 to be securely attached to a mattress. The sheet body 1 and skirt 2 may be manufactured of any desired material, such as, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, latex, satin, flannel, or any other relevant materials. The sheet body 1 and the skirt 2 may be comprised of the same material or different materials.

In order to describe in more detail the configuration of the present invention, the sheet body 1 may be considered to comprise a top panel 11 and a plurality of side panels 12. The word “panel” herein should be understood to refer to a portion of sheet material that is generally flat when fully stretched or installed on a mattress, but is not limited in physical appearance or configuration to being flat and stiff, due to the foldable and collapsible material nature of bed sheet fabric. The top panel 11 is the main portion of the sheet body 1 and is generally the portion of the sheet body 1 positioned horizontally atop a mattress while in use. The plurality of side panels 12 are portions of the sheet body 1 oriented vertically along the sides of the mattress while in use, and may further extend to underneath the mattress while in use to ensure adequate security of the sheet body 1 on the mattress.

The plurality of side panels 12 is terminally and perimetrically connected adjacent to the top panel 11. That is, each of the plurality of side panels 12 is connected adjacent to the top panel 11 at one end of the side panels 12, and the side panels 12 traverse around a perimeter of the top panel 11. A plurality of corners of the sheet body 1 is defined at the intersections of the plurality of side panels 12. Preferably, the elastic band 3 is perimetrically positioned within the plurality of side panels 12 opposite the top panel 11. In other embodiments, the elastic band 3 may be connected exterior to the plurality of side panels 12, or the elastic band 3 may be connected to the sheet body 1 in any other fashion pursuant to the intended functionality of the elastic band 3, securing the corners of the sheet body 1 around the corners of the mattress.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skirt 2 is connected to the sheet body 1 adjacent to the top panel 11 and the plurality of side panels 12. Alternatively stated, the skirt 2 is connected to the sheet body 1 at or near the junction between the top panel 11 and the plurality of side panels 12. When installed on a mattress, the skirt 2 should cover the entirety of the side panels 12 from view, in addition to extending downward a greater distance than the side panels 12. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of side panels 12 shares a specified side panel height 4, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, wherein the specified side panel height 4 is considered to be the shortest distance from the top panel 11 to the end of the side panel opposite the top panel 11, or vertical when installed on a mattress. Furthermore, a specified skirt height 5 of the skirt 2 is greater than the specified side panel height 4, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. The height of the skirt 2 may vary in different embodiments, but the specified skirt height 5 should be of a sufficient length to reach the floor or extend close to the floor when installed on a mattress on a bed frame.

More particularly, in some embodiments, the plurality of side panels 12 comprises a first side panel 13, a second side panel 14, a first end panel 15, and a second end panel 16. The first side panel 13, the second side panel 14, the first end panel 15, and the second end panel 16 are terminally connected adjacent to the top panel 11. The first side panel 13 and the second side panel 14 are positioned opposite each other along the sheet body 1. Similarly, the first end panel 15 and the second end panel 16 are positioned opposite each other along the sheet body 1. The first side panel 13 and the second side panel 14 are also terminally connected between the first end panel 15 and the second end panel 16.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the skirt 2 comprises a first side skirt panel 23, a second side skirt panel 24, a first end skirt panel 25, and a second end skirt panel 26. The first side skirt panel 23 is terminally connected adjacent to the top panel 11 and the first side panel 13. The second side skirt panel 24 is terminally connected adjacent to the top panel 11 and the second side panel 14. The first end skirt panel 25 is terminally connected adjacent to the top panel 11 and the first end panel 15, and the second end skirt panel 26 is terminally connected adjacent to the top panel 11 and the second end panel 16. Thus, in some embodiments, each panel of the skirt 2 corresponds with one of the plurality of side panels 12 of the sheet body 1. In other embodiments, however, either the first end skirt panel 25 or the second end skirt panel 26 may not be comprised, omitting one end of the skirt 2 to be positioned against a headboard, wall or other object where the skirt 2 would not be visible and therefore unnecessary to have. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6.

Referring to FIGS. 8-9, in some embodiments of the present invention, the skirt 2 may comprise a plurality of slits. Each of the plurality of slits will be positioned at one of the corners of the sheet body 1 in order to accommodate beds with posts at each of the four corners of the bed. In such embodiments, the skirt 2 comprises a first slit 27, a second slit 28, a third slit 29, and a fourth slit 30. The first slit 27 traverses through the skirt 2 between the first side skirt panel 23 and the first end skirt panel 25. The second slit 28 traverses through the skirt 2 between the first end skirt panel 25 and the second side skirt panel 24. The third slit 29 traverses through the skirt 2 between the second side skirt panel 24 and the second end skirt panel 26. The fourth slit 30 traverses through the skirt 2 between the second end skirt panel 26 and the first side skirt panel 23. Each of the plurality of slits traverses through the skirt 2 from the top panel 11 to the bottom edge of the skirt 2.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fitted bed sheet with attached skirt comprises: a sheet body; a skirt; an elastic band; the sheet body comprises a top panel and a plurality of side panels; the plurality of side panels being terminally and perimetrically connected adjacent to the top panel; the elastic band being perimetrically positioned within the plurality of side panels opposite the top panel; and the skirt being connected to the sheet body adjacent to the top panel and the plurality of side panels.
 2. The fitted bed sheet with attached skirt as claimed in claim 1 comprises: The plurality of side panels comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a first end panel, and a second end panel; the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end panel, and the second end panel being terminally connected adjacent to the top panel; the first side panel and the second side panel being positioned opposite each other along the sheet body; the first end panel and the second end panel being positioned opposite each other along the sheet body; and the first side panel and the second side panel being terminally connected between the first end panel and the second end panel.
 3. The fitted bed sheet with attached skirt as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the skirt comprises a first side skirt panel, a second side skirt panel, a first end skirt panel, and a second end skirt panel; the first side skirt panel being terminally connected adjacent to the top panel and the first side panel; the second side skirt panel being terminally connected adjacent to the top panel and the second side panel; the first end skirt panel being terminally connected adjacent to the top panel and the first end panel; and the second end skirt panel being terminally connected adjacent to the top panel and the second end panel.
 4. The fitted bed sheet with attached skirt as claimed in claim 3 comprises: the skirt comprises a first slit, a second slid, a third slit, and a fourth slit; the first slit traversing through the skirt between the first side skirt panel and the first end skirt panel; the second slit traversing through the skirt between the first end skirt panel and the second side skirt panel; the third slit traversing through the skirt between the second side skirt panel and the second end skirt panel; and the fourth slit traversing through the skirt between the second end skirt panel and the first side skirt panel.
 5. The fitted bed sheet with attached skirt as claimed in claim 1 comprises: each of the plurality of side panels having a specified side panel height; and a specified skirt height of the skirt being greater than the specified side panel height. 